.410 buckshot, range report

[Al Thompson]

Spotted some 5 packs of this at the local spots store. Tried it in my NEF Partner SS .410 full choke.

Results were terrible. It's probably adequate for interior SD, but at 12 yards, I could not keep all three of the OOO pellets on a sheet of notebook paper. Two would strike 4 - 6 inches above POA, the third (IMHO) was much higher. It wasn't until I closed the range to 15 feet that I started seeing all three pellets on target. Spread at that range was 4 - 5 inches.

Perhaps someone with a CYL bore .410 might get better results, but in that shotgun, it's a no-go.

Price was 3.95 per 5 pack.

 

[Fly Navy]

*cough*12 gauge*cough*

 

[sm]

Al, I know what you mean.

Many years ago I tried some with 3 pellets, various platforms, single shot, O/U, SxS, pump ...Its embarrassing to MISS a pattern board...never done that before. I concluded these were designed to be effective for only one thing...extracting money from a wallet. Like some fishing lures, designed to catch fishermen--not fish

 

[Al Thompson]

Yep, it's too bad. I'm toying with the idea of getting my elderly mom a Snake Charmer for snakes. Thought the addition of buckshot would work for the "two legged" snakes as well. May still get her the SC as she does have scads of snakes in her yard. Couple of packs of buckshot would still be usable at her probable engagement distance.

 

[sm]

Al
The small game load (2 1/2" 1/2 oz ) load of #4 and #6 patterns well for "room distance" from the NEF single shot .410 and Whatever that one was from Stoeger years ago( you pulled back on trigger guard to open ).

These were the full choked jobbies with 3" chambers. Pattern best with 1/2 ozloads, I even reloaded with chilled shot to see what difference if any it would make. I found 3" blew patterns ...exception. Fiocchi .

Maybe because these Fiocchi were "Cal 36/76/16 19.50 gr"

okay 410 magnum/ 410 HV 3" 11/16 oz, #6 these seemed to work better no matter what.

Snakes, Well was gonna suggest the 20 ga NEF as I set my mom up with,you know your mom better than I . Mine is 73 and has arthritis flare ups. MOA and recoil not really a problem.

I always though a 28 ga single shot would be great. then again regular folks would balk at price, and availablity of loads.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks, Al, I admit I'm a little disappointed. I see a need for effective HD rounds for non shotgunners. These may do well in other 410s, but buck has traditionally worked best in open chokes, only changing in recent years with better ammo and choke tapers.

As for snake medicine, like Col Cooper, I see little need. A long handled garden hoe(Please, no bad jokes, we're family oriented here) is great for snakes and destroys little meat. BTW, snake ID is prerequisite, non venomous snakes too small to eat the puppy or grandchild are allies in the war against Mice and Rats and no threat. That 18" python found near Ft Lauderdale a couple years ago after scoffing a Beagle is an exception.That might call for Brennekes...

As for 28 gauges, good idea. Ammo is harder to get, but these would not be high volume shooters. And I bet your local skeet fanatics could be persuaded to cobble up a few 9/16 or 5/8 oz loads of 4 buck. A light skeet load for pest control, a few "Serious" loads and a little NEF 28 would be a nice setup for the elders.